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FiiO BTR17 assessment: Two-minute assessment
One other day, one other intriguing FiiO product. At this time it’s the BTR17 transportable Bluetooth DAC/headphone amplifier, and it appears protected to say it represents one other day of FiiO enterprise as regular.
The BTR17 is small, however it’s filled with performance and laid out in a manner that appears past the tiny bodily confines of the machine itself. Between Bluetooth 5.4 with top-of-the-shop codec compatibility, a pair of ESS ES9069Q DACs, an disproportionate quantity of energy when used as a desktop headphone amp, first rate battery life, the flexibility to take care of enormously high-resolution digital audio information, and a alternative of balanced or unbalanced headphone outputs, it’s apparent FiiO has endeavoured to do the proper factor right here.
And that impression of ‘good intentions’ turns into even stronger once you hear the BTR17 in motion. There are qualitative variations, in fact, between utilizing the FiiO as a wi-fi receiver and utilizing it as a dongle hard-wired to a smartphone or laptop computer – however what doesn’t alter regardless of the circumstances are the broad strokes of its sonic character.
And customarily, it’s a personality that’s quick, insightful, correctly managed and really satisfying to take heed to. Or, not less than, it’s if you happen to’re not anticipating comparable bass energy to the bass velocity that’s on show right here – the FiiO BTR17 is a speedy, direct pay attention, however it’s removed from the chunkiest sound round. Investigating your choices within the menus can result in some modifications in character, however they’re completely to the detriment of the machine’s basic character and perspective.
Come on then, is it nonetheless one of many best portable DACs out there for this cash? Sure, with one caveat (which I will come to).
If the stability is to not your style, you’ll look elsewhere/. However those that worth velocity and dexterity of sound as a lot as (if no more than) simple ‘wallop’ will benefit from the BTR17 no finish.
FiiO BTR17 assessment: Worth and launch date
- Launched in early November 2024
- Priced $219 / £179 / AU$349
The FiiO BTR17 transportable Bluetooth DAC/headphone amplifier is on sale now, and in the UK it sells for not more than £179. In the USA it’s at the moment $219* and in Australia you’re taking a look at AU$329. So regardless of the territory you’re buying in, the BTR17 appears notable worth for cash.
Should you do not thoughts wired connections in fact, the world is not precisely searching excessive and low for an reasonably priced USB DAC (see the pricier $499 / £449 / AU$769, the iFi GO Bar Kensei, the iFi Go Link Max at simply $79 / £79 / AU$139 the five-star iFi hip-dac 3 at $199 / £199 / AU$349 for starters). However nonetheless, the mix of value and wi-fi specification might win out right here…
(*topic to tariff-related change on a seemingly day by day foundation.)
FiiO BTR17 assessment: Options
- 32bit/768kHz and DSD512 assist
- Bluetooth 5.4 with LDAC and aptX Lossless compatibility
- 650mW + 650mW balanced energy for headphone amplification
It shouldn’t actually come as any sort of shock at this level that FiiO has specified certainly one of its merchandise in a fashion that may simply disgrace an equal product from an alternate model. And but I discover I’m nonetheless mildly startled however simply how far into city FiiO has gone with the BTR17.
Whatever the manner the digital audio info will get on board, both by USB-C or by way of Bluetooth, it’s handled by a pair of ESS ES9069Q DACs which are in a position to deal with each main file kind as much as 32bit/768kHz and DSD512 decision. Should you determine to go together with Bluetooth, you could have the posh of the 5.4 model with codec compatibility all the best way to LDAC and aptX Lossless – using a Qualcomm QCC5181 Bluetooth chip to do the required means the FiiO is LE Audio-compliant, too.
Use the BTR17 in ‘desktop’ mode with its ‘energy in’ USB slot linked to a supply of USB energy (FiiO offers a bit of size of monocrystalline silver- and copper-plated eight-strand USB-C / USB-C cable to make sure clear energy and correct information switch)and it may churn out a considerable 650mW + 650mW of balanced energy. That is the type of output extra generally related to larger desktop headphone amps, and is ample to drive even fairly truculent headphones.
Should you’re utilizing battery energy slightly than USB-C energy, the BTR17 will run for anyplace between seven hours (making a Bluetooth connection, utilizing a power-hungry codec, driving balanced headphones by way of the 4.4mm output and listening at hefty quantity) and ten hours (in ‘telephone’ mode, at modest quantity, driving headphones by way of the unbalanced 3.5mm output and listening to stuff of not more than 16bit/44.1kHz decision). Charging from ‘flat’ to ‘full’ is a 90-minute job.
Unsurprisingly, there’s extra – simply as there was with the older FiiO BTR7 Bluetooth DAC (which isn’t to be confused with the newer mannequin you are studying about in the present day). The BTR17 has a three-stage, ten-rail energy provide, and it has multi-stage structure of the kind FiiO matches to its dear digital audio gamers. It has a ‘driver-free’ mode which means it may connect with a PS5, a Change or one thing like that instantly, with out the necessity for downloaded drivers. It has built-in DC output and temperature detection to guard the machine if situations take a flip for the irregular. And I might go on – however let’s simply wrap this part up by saying FiiO has laid in on, specification-wise, with a trowel right here.
Options rating: 5 / 5
FiiO BTR17 assessment: Sound high quality
- Nice sonic momentum and rhythmic positivity
- Detailed and insightful
- ‘All or nothing’ EQ and filter changes
I’ve heard a couple of DAC/headphone amp units currently which have sounded muscle-bound and barrel-chested within the method of a bulldog. The FiiO BTR17, by the use of completely happy distinction, is extra of a greyhound.
There’s a rapidity, a sort of solely naturalistic momentum, to the FiiO’s sound regardless of if it’s receiving its digital audio info wirelessly by way of Bluetooth or by way of certainly one of its USB-C sockets. A fleet-footed recording like Broadcast’s Black Cat pretty motors alongside – the BTR17 expresses the rhythm with full conviction, and the tune stays on the entrance foot as consequence. There’s nothing compelled about the best way it’s introduced, although – it doesn’t grasp round, however neither does it really feel prefer it’s being prodded forwards.
A part of this impression comes from the best way the BTR17 handles the vanguard of low-frequency sounds – there’s no overhang or slurring, as a substitute the FiiO snaps into bass info with actual function. There are some minor points on the backside of the frequency vary, and I’ll get to these – however there’s no arguing with the velocity this little machine can make investments a recording with.
This isn’t on the expense of organisation, both. The FiiO creates a decently spacious and easy-to-understand soundstage, and may unfold out even advanced recordings to the purpose that particular person parts are straightforward to focus on. There’s loads of element out there at each a part of the frequency vary, and the BTR17 is simply as attentive to fleeting and/or very minor occurrences as it’s to the broader strokes. The upshot is a presentation that appears very very similar to it’s the whole image.
Total tonality is, in nearly each circumstance, fairly rigorously impartial and uncolored, so if you happen to play a heat and sepia-coloured recording like Johnny Too Dangerous by The Slickers, or a blue-ish and low-temperature quantity like Floating World by Zodiac Free Arts Membership, what goes in is what comes out. The BTR17, left to its personal units, appears completely completely happy to not stick its oar in.
Integration of the frequency vary is nice, too, with no space being overplayed. I’ve heard loads of merchandise like this that can ramp up the underside finish or shove the midrange forwards, however that’s the FiiO’s scene in any respect.
There’s not an terrible lot of meat on the low-frequency bones right here, although. The BTR17 can dig pretty deep and hit fairly exhausting, however low-end substance is in pretty brief provide. In fact, a constructive knock-on of this trait is that velocity and manoeuvrability I’ve already mentioned – however there’s additionally a draw back which anybody who’s curious about bass for the sake of bass will have already got labored out for themselves.
There are alternatives within the machine’s menus to finesse the EQ settings, in fact, and likewise to research varied filters – you would possibly suppose this barely flyweight presentation could possibly be mitigated considerably this manner. However the results of every are delicate within the excessive, proper till the second they turn into slightly ham-fisted and find yourself spoiling the rigorously formed low-frequency response. You can also make the BTR17 sound weightier than it actually desires to if you happen to set your thoughts to it – however you’ll be affecting its velocity and rhythmic positivity on the similar time. And never in a great way.
Sound high quality: 4 / 5
FiiO BTR17 assessment: Design
- 87 x 41 x 16mm (HxWxD)
- Black or blue finishes
- 73g
When a product is sincerely meant to be ‘transportable’, design has to take a again seat to ‘getting every part right into a bundle as small and lightweight as is realistically attainable’. So aside from the little ledge beneath the 33mm display screen on the entrance of the BTR17 and the mildly fascinating ‘flip/push’ management on the high left, its 87 x 41 x 16mm (HxWxD), 73g chassis is solely unremarkable. And that’s the case no matter which of the black or blue finishes you select.
There’s completely nothing mistaken with the construct high quality right here, although, nor the usual of end. The BTR17 is nearly solely plastic, however it’s fairly tactile and appears made to final.
Design rating: 5 / 5
FiiO BTR17 assessment: Usability and setup
- Tiny bodily controls
- Full-colour display screen
- Staggeringly in-depth management app
The BTR17’s 33mm show might look unhelpfully small, however it’s a crisp, full-colour IPS job and manages to legibly affirm file kind or Bluetooth codec, pattern charge, EQ setting, battery life and quantity stage all on the similar time. It additionally offers entry to menus that enable adjustment to realize gradients, audio filters, a alternative of EQ presets, display screen brightness and so forth.
You navigate the menus utilizing the rotary management on the highest left fringe of the BTR17. It feels and appears good, and operates with nice positivity – and it additionally offers entry to quantity management, ‘play/pause’ and telephony capabilities. There are different controls organized beneath it down the sting of the machine – they’re, inevitably, very small, and their labelling is even smaller. However take the time to commit their capabilities to reminiscence and you’ll take care of ‘skip forwards/backwards’, ‘energy on/off’, choose ‘Bluetooth’, ‘telephone’ or ‘PC’ your utilization mode, and change ‘desktop’ mode on or off.
These utilization modes have an enormous half to play within the BTR17’s battery life. In ‘PC’ mode, it’s powered by the pc it’s linked to. In ‘telephone’ mode, its inner battery contributes to energy provide, which reduces the load in your smartphone. In ‘BT’ mode, all the facility is coming from the FiiO’s inner battery.
Bodily connection to a pc or a smartphone is by way of one of many two USB-C slots on the underside of the BTR17. Both can be utilized for charging and for information switch, and one can be for energy enter when the machine is in ‘desktop’ mode. On the reverse finish of the machine, in the meantime, there are Again within the mainstream world, there are a few headphone outputs – one is an unbalanced 3.5mm socket, the opposite a 4.4mm balanced equal.
There’s an enormous, nearly unnecessarily in depth, quantity of performance out there within the ‘FiiO Management’ app. Wish to modify the ‘double-click’ perform of these bodily ‘skip forwards/backwards’ buttons, or create a customized EQ utilizing a ten-band equaliser, or change ‘distortion compensation’ in a few harmonic ranges on or off, or modify the channel stability between ‘left’ and ‘proper’? That is the place you do it. In order for you a slider to manage the size of time the BTR17’s display screen stays on, or how brilliant it’s, or how lengthy it stays switched on whereas it’s at relaxation, you are able to do it right here too. Except you’re the type of one that can’t relaxation till they’ve customised the trivia of their audio gear’s set-up and efficiency, it’s more likely to appear to be overkill.
Usability and setup rating: 4 / 5
FiiO BTR17 assessment: Worth
- You may’t decide fault with the worth for cash
- Performs its duties admirably
Clearly it’s vital to guage ‘worth’ on a foundation aside from that of ‘how a lot stuff do I get?” – as a result of whereas the FiiO BTR17 is essentially small and lightweight, it’s obtained plenty of performance and it performs very well.
Most USB DAC/headphone amps at this type of cash don’t have a wi-fi facet to their efficiency. Only a few have a show or a management app, and fewer nonetheless have the type of alacrity of sound the BTR17 can summon. Its sonic perspective won’t be for everybody, however for many who are partial, there’s glorious worth for cash available right here.
Worth rating: 5 / 5
Ought to I purchase the FiiO BTR17?
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Options |
Even permitting for FiiO being FiiO, this factor is comprehensively specified |
5/5 |
|
Design |
It is tremendous small and nonetheless has a helpful display screen |
5/5 |
|
Sound high quality |
Detailed, agile, impartial – simply could possibly be a tiny bit punchier |
4/5 |
|
Worth |
It could be an error to argue with the sound-per-pound worth right here |
5/5 |
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
FiiO BTR17 assessment: Additionally take into account
The iFi Go Link Max is a great-sounding USB-C DAC/headphone amp that’s compact and well-made – however it doesn’t have Bluetooth connectivity.
Helm Audio’s Bolt USB-C DAC/headphone amp is one other nice performer and no hardship in any respect to take heed to – however, once more, there’s no wi-fi performance right here.
How I examined the FiiO BTR17
- Used whereas working, whereas commuting and within the automobile
- Listened in wi-fi Bluetooth mode, and utilizing wired choices
I used the BTR17 as a desktop DAC/headphone amp, linked to my Apple MacBook Professional. I used it linked to an Apple iPhone 14 by way of its USB-C socket, too, which allowed me to make use of wired headphones with a tool with no headphone socket – and I additionally linked it wirelessly by way of Bluetooth to the smartphone, only for the sake of completeness.
I additionally discovered it a helpful machine when in a automobile with no wi-fi connectivity – Bluetooth from my smartphone to the FiiO, and the out of the BTR17’s 3.5mm unbalanced headphone socket to the ‘aux’ enter of the in-car audio system. In each circumstance, regardless of the kind of connection or the kind of music enjoying, the little FiiO was at all times a speedy and revealing pay attention.
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